The very beginning of Asian-American theater began during the California gold rush when many Asian immigrants came from Asia seeking wealth. The traditional Chinese operas, acrobatics, and puppetry trekked through to America as well. Chinese Americans found solace in this part of home they brought with them, they also established "China towns". As the Asian-Americans traveled, so did their theatrical performances, and the stylistic theater typical of Asian-American theater. The very first Asian-American company tour was put on by the Tung Hook Tung company in 1852. The Asian-American theater became much more spread out during the economic downfall of the 1870s when negative attitudes became attracted to Asian-American immigrants. Due to these sentimentalizes, they fled the west coast and as a result chinatowns began to spread and with it Asian-American theater. In 1900 Chinese opera theaters opened in New York as well as: Portland, San Francisco, and Boston. Some years later Chinese-language theaters opened, but in their primary existence featured little to no actual Asian-American featured in main roles. Instead famous white actors and actresses filled these roles. Plays like: The First Born, or The King and I are guilty of this white washing in theater. Many years later in responce to the lack of Asian casting came the "East West Players" a company created by Alberto Isaacs, and many others in 1965. While the intentions of this company was good they had a distinct lack of Asian-American written plays. Many other companies such as: the Asian-American Theater Workshop have done much more effective jobs at attempting to level the playing field and bring more Asian-American written, and acted plays to light. The first Asian-American to have a major New York productions was Frank Chin's 1972 play Chicken-coop Chinaman. The work of the people and companies of yesteryear have opened the door for playwrights like David Hwang, and Brenda Aoki to be able to have popular and successful plays on Broadway and beyond.